Tag: engagement ring
Diamond experts like the folks at David Craig Jewelers work with grading systems that help customers better understand exactly what you are purchasing.
Diamond Grading 101
There’s no doubt that purchasing a diamond engagement ring is a big decision and a very emotional one. Back in the 1940s, the folks at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) realized how confusing diamond purchasing could be with value seemingly subjectively compared. They developed a standardized system that would once and for all provide best practice guidelines that all professionals could use. Since then, natural born diamonds (from the earth, not laboratory grown simulations) are assessed in four categories – those famous 4cs you may have heard of: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat weight.
Diamond Cut: While the GIA grades diamonds with a scale of 0-10, the American Gem Society (AGS), another powerhouse and reputable source for diamond certification, labels stones “Ideal” on down to “Poor.” Shape refers to the outline of the diamond as you look down at it. It’s just one aspect of the diamond cut. The quality of the cut is what gives the diamond its brilliance. The more proportional the cut, the greater the brilliance and sparkle. A great cut captures light and reflects it back spectacularly.
Diamond Clarity: Clarity grading differs between the two key gemological institutions, the GIA and AGS, with GIA using more of an alphabetical system and AGS using a numbering system. As one example: An “IF” rating from the GIA is the same as a “1” from the AGS and indicates a diamond that has no inclusions visible at 10x magnification with insignificant surface blemishes.
Diamond Color Grading: Like diamond clarity, the AGS makes it easy with numbers running 1-10. As an example, a “5-6” rating signifies small stones that appear “face-up,” colorless when mounted, with larger stones tinted. The equivalent GIA category is a “J-K-L.”
Why are we telling you this?
We’re not trying to confuse you, honest! Quite the contrary. We just want to show you that tons of energy and thought has been put into comparing diamonds to make sure that an excellent diamond from one jeweler is still an excellent diamond as seen by the next. David Craig and his team of jewelry specialists are here to help you choose a diamond that you’ll love today and always. We can custom design a diamond ring to fit your unique taste and budget.
According to Holiday Insights, romance is really in the air in August as we celebrate Romance Awareness Month this month. We’d thought we’d really get into the act by offering you:
- According to some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck. The idea is that a wet knot is harder to untie. Other superstitions relate wedding day rain to fertility, the last tears the bride will ever shed, (wouldn’t that be nice?) and general positive stuff ahead. (The Knot)
- Knives are considered bad luck to give as wedding gifts. But you apparently can circumvent the negative vibes by asking the recipient to give you a penny so that the knives will seem to be “purchased.”
- Between 2008 and 2016, the median age for first marriage rose about two years to 28 for women, 30 for men. (U.S. Census Bureau)
- A more equal division of responsibility counts when it comes to peace on the home front. More than half of Americans surveyed said that sharing household chores was important to maintaining a successful marriage. (Pew Research)
- Ancient civilizations thought a veil would protect the bride from nasty evil spirits. According to present-day historian Susan Waggoner, the veil represented the “delivery of a modest and untouched maiden.” The tradition of wearing veils continues today although only as a beautiful accessory. (Brides)
- Engagement rings may have originated in Rome as a sign of ownership. Diamonds became even more popular as engagement rings in 1947 when the advertising slogan “A Diamond is Forever” was penned by De Beers copywriter Frances Gerety. (De Beers)
- The most popular month for getting engaged is December, while the summer months lead for wedding ceremonies, followed by autumn. (Glamour)
- Bridesmaids originally wore dresses that were similar to the bride’s to keep evil spirits from knowing who was the real woman getting married. Eenie meenie miney mo? (Southern Living)
- The tradition of wedding cake toppers may have originated with Queen Victoria. She commemorated her wedding to her beloved Prince Albert in 1840 by commissioning mini sculptures of the couple to adorn the wedding cake. (Martha Stewart)
- 61% of guys discuss engagement rings with their girlfriends before actually buying the ring. (Brides)
Stop in and visit us at David Craig Jewelers for one of the area’s finest selections of engagement and wedding rings. While you’re here, how about a stunning pair of earrings, a bracelet or necklace for your romantic partner? Commemorate his or her next birthday, anniversary or other occasion more romantically with precious metals and gemstones.
If you’re like the rest of us, staying safe right now includes washing your hands consistently and thoroughly, especially whenever you touch any “foreign” surface. As a result, many of our hands are dry and cracking from all the washing in the recent colder weather. The increased use of hand-sanitizing products only worsens this dryness.
Your jewelry may also be feeling the effect of all that extra hygiene. Excessive use of hand-sanitizer and contact with strong cleaning agents can damage fine jewelry. But it’s important you keep your jewelry clean. Germs can hide on the inside of rings and in design crevices, for example. While stones like diamonds are pretty sturdy, other more delicate stones, like opals and pearls, don’t react well with some soaking solutions.
Even though we love jewelry (of course!), at this delicate time we suggest that you consider following the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) tip: If you have to head out of your home for an essential errand, leave jewelry at home. In an article in USA Today, Rochelle Walensky, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital said, “I think removal of rings/jewelry when washing hands – or perhaps limiting their wear altogether right now- represents a wise move forward.”
We understand some people don’t want to take off engagement rings and/or wedding bands for sentimental reasons, fear of theft or accidentally misplacing them. Many individuals do not like to ever remove engagement rings or wedding bands. If you really feel you have to wear rings out in public and for some reason aren’t wearing protective gloves, David Craig Jewelers suggests you follow these two steps:
#1 Before scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, always remove rings and wash them thoroughly with warm, soapy water, letting them dry on a clean surface. NEVER place rings near a sink or you could risk seeing your precious investment literally go down the drain!
#2 Wash your hands thoroughly in soap and water before you put the rings back on.
If you have specific questions about the safe cleaning of a particular piece of fine jewelry, please feel free to call David at 267-278-1986. We’re happy to offer advice.
You might think the concept of purchasing diamond engagement rings goes back centuries. But it really hasn’t. While the idea of giving a ring to show a love connection has indeed been a long-held tradition, the real popularity of diamonds can be traced to a simple De Beers marketing campaign from 1938.
Some studies show that, prior to World War II, only 10% of engagement rings were diamonds. The story is that De Beers hired an ad agency who created the “A Diamond is Forever” campaign. By 1941, the company is said to have reported a whopping 55% increase in sales of diamonds in the U.S.!
Diamonds aren’t just popular because of their incredible sparkle. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness and resistance to damage, diamonds rank “10” as the most durable stone. David Craig Jewelers carries hundreds of varieties and shapes and sizes of diamonds in brands like our popular Forevermark.
Lovely Alternatives
Despite today’s rightful popularity of diamonds, other gemstones can make fabulous engagement rings for the non-traditional bride looking for something stunning, but non-traditional.
While diamonds are the sturdiest gemstones, many other stones rank nearly as high, such as rubies and sapphires which both rank as “9” on the same Mohs scale. Kate Middleton, and before her, Princess Diana, showed the world that blue sapphire makes for a gorgeous engagement ring. While sapphires are known for their vibrant blue hue, the stone also comes in lovely colors like yellow and pink.
Stones with a 7.5 – 8 Mohs rating include aquamarine (gorgeous green-blue) and emeralds. With special care, other stones with lower hardness rankings (pearls and opals, for instance), can also last a lifetime.
Whether you’re looking for a diamond or a beautiful alternative gemstone, you can rely on your local jewelers at David Craig for a lovely, unique engagement ring that will suit your style and serve as a cherished reminder of your love. We promise complete satisfaction!
Matthew and Laurie Myers were thrilled with their David Craig Jeweler (DCJ) experience in 2015 —an engagement ring and band for Laurie and a matching wedding band for Matthew. The couple had also purchased DCJ wedding gifts for each other—a bracelet for Laurie and a watch for Matthew. Fast forward two years to their second anniversary and it was time for another special gift.
The couple attended one of David’s intimate gemstone roundtables where a small group of individuals is invited for an educational jewelry experience. This particular session was run by Paul Cohen, store manager and, like David, a certified gemologist.
Laurie lovingly examined a gorgeous aquamarine gemstone with an unusual cats-eye feature* (read below for more details!)
“I didn’t know what we could do with this stone, but I immediately loved it,” recalls Laurie. “There was something very special about a cat’s eye effect in what was actually my birthstone (aquamarine).”
Matthew made the decision to buy the stone and asked DCJ to come up with some design ideas. Adding sapphires—Matthew’s birthstone— around the aquamarine was the perfect touch.
“It’s simply stunning, especially given all of the extra effort that went into the design and creation of this ring,” says Laurie.
The anniversary ring was completed in time for the couple’s special celebration trip to Seattle and Vancouver last month.
“It was perfect,” recalls Laurie. “I was able to wear my beautiful gift to a
couple of special anniversary dinners and everybody who saw it, even one
waitress, admired it. It’s a showstopper!”
If you’re interested in learning more about gemstones by attending one of David Craig Jeweler’s roundtable events, call us for more information: 215-
968-8900.
*According to DCJ’s store manager and gemologist appraiser, Paul Cohen, an aquamarine with a cats-eye phenomenon is unusual. He explains that “chatoyancy,” the proper term for the optical cats-eye effect, occurs in a number of gemstones, but most commonly in moonstone which was a favorite gemstone choice in the jewelry design of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the early 1900s. Mr. Tiffany would frequently incorporate American- sourced blue sapphires into his designs with the moonstones. The cats-eye aquamarine stone chosen by Laurie and Matthew resembles a blue sheen cats-eye moonstone. With Matt's birthstone a sapphire (blue), it seemed natural to design Laurie’s ring to reflect design styles of that period and Tiffany’s influence.
The ring incorporates filigree elements accented with milgrain (decorative) work all executed in platinum – a theme greatly favored in the early 1900s. With the cats-eye aqua gemstone, the blue sapphires, all set in platinum along with the filigree/milgrain detail, this ring design would fit right in during the early 1900 period.
Kevin Mealey, 29, of Bensalem, is a cardiovascular perfusionist, a specially trained medical professional who operates the critical heart-lung machine that keeps a patient’s blood circulating during thoracic surgery. When he met Cassandra Enginger, 23, at LA Fitness in Neshaminy, Kevin’s heart skipped a beat or two—from attraction, not a medical emergency!
“We had an instant connection and soon discovered how our morals and viewpoints really meshed,” says Kevin.
Cassandra, 23, from Washington Crossing, a personal trainer currently also going to school for a real estate license, obviously felt the same way. Only four months later the couple were engaged.
The Ring
Kevin and Cassandra had talked about styles and both knew they wanted something “different.” And Kevin wanted a local, trustworthy jeweler, somebody he could return to periodically to check the integrity of the ring, to ask questions, and to shop for other jewelry. David Craig Jewelers perfectly fit the bill.
“David was great to work with – I never felt rushed or pressured —I’m definitely a life-long customer!”
The custom-made ring is “of the finest quality” according to David Craig Rotenberg, owner of David Craig Jewelers. David was able to take Kevin’s ideas into consideration to create a custom, platinum ring, flanked with diamonds on the shank and prongs. It’s set with a beautiful, round Forevermark diamond.
As Kevin kindly posted on an online review, “I don’t have enough great things to say about David Craig Jewelers. Everyone that helped me find the perfect ring for my fiancé made me feel like family from the moment I walked through the door.”
The Proposal
Kevin proposed July 8th during his family’s vacation to the beautiful Outer Banks barrier islands of North Carolina. He managed to convince Cassandra to join him on the beach before dinner. His mother and sisters immediately began decorating the home rental. His dad, not so coincidentally, just “happened” to be strolling along the beach —ready to take photos. During a break in a very windy period Kevin asked Cassandra to marry him. A date has not been set yet as the couple searches for the perfect venue. We wish Kevin and Cassandra much joy and happiness – from the bottom of our hearts!
On a balmy summer day in 2015, marathoner Matthew Myers stopped into Moishe and Itzy’s restaurant at Summit Square, Langhorne for a yummy respite after a run.
Afterwards, Matthew decided to head down a few shops for a peek into the nearby David Craig Jewelers for a look at their engagement rings.
Even without the added “happy” endorphins from running, Matthew immediately knew this was the place he would make his important purchase for the love of his life, Laurie Heusner.
“I had looked at different jewelers, and knew I didn’t want a chain store – I wanted a more personalized experience and David Craig Jewelers seemed like the perfect place,” says Matthew.
He purchased a sapphire ring (Matthew’s birthstone) surrounded by diamonds on a white gold base. The vibrant blue color also matches Matthews eyes – a reminder for Laurie of his commitment to her. The ring is overall “understated” since he knew Laurie wanted something more “low profile.”
The couple had started dating in 2013 when they met through friends when involved in a marathon fundraiser. Matthew proposed August 1, 2015 and the couple were married one year later on August 12, 2016 at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium (be sure to check out the “guest mammal” in the photo!). Mr. and Mrs. Myers now live in Langhorne. Laurie works at Swarthmore College, and Matthew for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Matthew’s white gold matching wedding band is highlighted by an aquamarine gemstone, Laurie’s birthstone. All rings were custom made and designed at David Craig Jewelers.
The couple also purchased wedding gifts for each other from David Craig – a Citizens Eco-Drive watch for Matthew from Laurie, and a diamond and aquamarine bracelet from Matthew to Laurie which also served as her “something new” at the wedding.
“I highly recommend David Craig Jewelers,” says Matthew. “David (Rotenberg) and everyone else there was so very helpful and clearly listened to us to make sure we got exactly what we wanted.”
In 2012, Kelsey Wilhere, from Langhorne, and Dennis Lynch, from Levittown, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend.
At the time, Kelsey was a student at Penn State Abington and Dennis was studying at East Strasbourg University.
After graduation in 2014, the two moved to Las Vegas where they both began their careers, Kelsey as a kindergarten teacher and Dennis teaching 8th grade health. The couple discussed marriage and knew it was in their near future, but Dennis still wanted the proposal itself to be magical.
Dennis had visited David Craig Jewelers after hints from Kelsey who had already perused rings in the Bucks County, PA store. Says Kelsey: “I used to babysit for Joanne Jeuch*, (an Accredited Jewelry Professional for David Craig Jewelers), and had actually visited her at the store, so I had a good idea of the kind of ring I would like.”
In the summer of 2014, Dennis decided to pop the question in front of about 100 people gathered for a party for Dennis’s mom’s 50th birthday. “Kelsey wanted to include family and friends in all steps of our adventure,” said Dennis. “So,
after giving a speech in honor of my mother, I got down on my knee and surprised Kelsey by proposing in front of the group —people who meant a lot to both of us —which seemed the perfect time.”
The couple were married June 23, 2017 in East Windsor, New Jersey. They still reside in Las Vegas.
“I only get my ring (a dainty, princess-cut center diamond made and designed by David Craig Jewelers) cleaned when I return back to this area. I trust them all at David Craig and everyone is so personable—David always shakes our hands, asks how we’re doing and you know he means it,” says Kelsey.
“You really get a good feeling when you walk through the door,” agrees Dennis.
We wish Kelsey and Dennis happy holidays and best wishes as they complete their first year together as Mr. and Mrs. Lynch!
*Kelsey’s ring, as further explained by Joanne:
“Kelsey’s ring is set in white gold. The center diamond is flanked on each side by a round diamond. The shank of the ring is set with ten additional diamonds, five on each side, that are graduated in size with the smallest diamonds closest to the center three stones. It’s a beautiful, delicate creation that perfectly suits Kelsey. Plus, for her wedding ring, she chose a pair of curved diamond bands that fit up against her engagement ring on each side.”
David Craig Jewelers is excited to congratulate our clients Neil and Ruthie on their engagement. Neil popped the big question on September 20, 2015 at the Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys game. The Birds may have lost, but Neil scored big when Ruthie said “Yes.” Continue reading Love Story: Neil and Ruthie’s Game-day Engagement
Congratulations, Jerry & Rachel!
We’d like to congratulate our clients and friends, Jerry & Rachel, on their recent engagement. Jerry proposed to his beautiful fiancée Rachel while they were away in Maine. Check out their engagement photos and Rachel’s gorgeous ring below!